Rhonda-Van-Wrinkle Revisited

Three years ago today…March 1, 2013, I re-entered the blogosphere to share my thoughts and speak my mind on life’s many shades of gray. Having survived the hugely regretful menopause fueled meltdown deletion of my original blogonality, Help Me Rhonda, I’m more than happy I made the decision to try again.

I am also very thankful for the old friends that found the new me, and thrilled with the new friends I’ve made since. So, I’d like to celebrate this birthday with a stroll down memory lane by revisiting 50 Shades of Gray Hair’s inaugural post…as well as thanking you all once again, for adding your own hues to my 50 shades, and leaving your heart-prints all over mine.

And I just have to point out…the first sentence of the 4th paragraph? The one I’ve highlighted in yellow? Oy…prophetic or WHAT!! 🙂

This first official post has me feeling like I’m coming back to Junior High after summer break. But instead of that obligatory ‘How I Spent My Summer Vacation’ essay, I’m standing in front of the class reading mine entitled…

Though I am no longer the pimply-faced teen, sweating the small stuff…I AM a wrinkly-faced grandmother sweating with the flashes and spending way too much time looking for those things I knew I needed, at the time I needed them but forgot I had…and when I did find them, I couldn’t remember why I needed them in the first place.

Ha…I’m not really wrinkly-faced; it’s more of a wrinkly feeeeling. The memory thing is spot on though, as are the questions about where life went and what new and wonderful surprises will pop up, slide down, fall off, or turn colors, each and every morning.

[Not to mention what happens AFTER I leave the bathroom…yikes]

Those first steps of the day can make it or break your leg…if you’re not paying attention. Life’s stairs are steep; you need to open your eyes, clear your head, hang onto the handrail, and take one step at a time. That isn’t to say you can’t ride the rail once in a while…hop on the banister and whoop your way down…

…Just watch out for the splinters along the way. They are a pain in the ass!

No one said it would be easy. At least no one said it to me. Of course, no one said it would be this hard either. But, I have realized, it’s only as hard as we make it. Which, I believe, is why I’m here…again.

Life can be hard, but never as hard as when you turn inward thinking to shelter and protect, only to wake up and realize you are just adding more and more wrinkles. Those ‘oldest woman on earth’ kind of wrinkles; ‘my wrinkles have wrinkles’ kind of wrinkles; ‘when I stand I sound like an accordion‘ kind of wrinkles.

Old.

I’m talking feeling old!

And I’m too young to feel this old.

Too young to BE this old.

So, I’m starting by ironing and straightening out some of those internal wrinkles. Getting up and out of my life’s laundry basket and getting to work. (Don’t worry, I won’t ever use that term again! And if any of you remember anything about my old blog…you may recall I HATE IRONING!)

Each day – a new stretch

Each stretch – one less wrinkle.

And I know I’m not doing it alone.

That’s the key. I’m letting those that love me take one end while I take the other…and together we’ll pull some of those suckers out.

And for the one’s that can’t be pulled…I have a turbo charged steam iron.

It’s so good to be found! Knew you’d put those noses to work! And exactly so…I’m doing just that. Thank you for the nod toward the photo…it’s exciting. I’m being shameless in my pandering for likes…and I’m good with that! Glad you’re here…feeling more and more like home.

need dig no further than Good Grief…should answer some of your ???
And there will be more of my days with CC to come, as always..and makes me happy to know you are feeling at home again too. That’s the best.

I love that your wrinkles have wrinkles…that’s the way it should be. At least in my wrinkly opinion. I was just talking to a friend, and she was lamenting her wrinkles [which I just about fail to see…] and said to her that they are part of what makes her someone I like so much, and that I would miss them if she took ‘extreme measures’. I like your wrinkles too, Rhonda Van Wrinkle…the creases and folds and lines are what make you an exceptional woman, one that I adore and admire! xoxo

you are causing more wrinkles you know! but good ones…the ones around the eyes and mouth that show up after years of smiling and laughing. not to worry bon…whatever wrinkles i have on the outside…are staying put. it’s the ones on the inside i’m getting ironed out…xoxo